Mechanical hair feeding electric razor

ABSTRACT

An electric shaver having a perforated &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;comb&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and cutting blades, is disclosed with off-center weights mounted in the cutting head causing it to oscillate and mechanically feed all the hair in its path into the comb as it passes over the surface to be shaved. The off-center weights are mounted on a solid shaft which extends through a hollow shaft on which the cutter blades are mounted, each shaft having a separate drive.

' United States Patent- Dec. 16, 1975 Albert MECHANICAL HAIR FEEDING ELECTRIC RAZOR [76] Inventor: Karmen D. Albert, 74-16 58th Ave.,

Elmhurst, NY. 11373 [22] Filed: Jan. 29, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 437,705

[52] U.S. Cl 30/43.8; 30/42 [51] Int. Cl. B26B 19/12 [58] Field of Search 30/42, 43.3, 43.7, 43.8, 30/43.91

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,220,800 11/1940 Jepson 30/43.8 X

2,260.114 10/1941 Hammond 30/43.8

2,342,467 2/1944 Hagopian 30/43.8 x

3,208,141 9/1965 Jepson 30/43.7

Primary ExaminerA1 Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith Attorney, Agent, or .Firm-Al1ison C. Collard [5 7 ABSTRACT An electric shaver having a perforated comb and cutting blades, is disclosed with off-center weights mounted in the cutting head causing it to oscillate and mechanically feed all the hair in its path into the comb as it passes over the surface to be shaved. The offcenter weights are mounted on a solid shaft which extends through a hollow shaft on which the cutter blades are mounted, each shaft having a separate drive.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheetlof2 3,925,889-

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,925,889

MECHANICAL HAIR FEEDING ELECTRIC RAZOR DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Many efforts have been made to increase the efficiency of an electric shaver. It would be desirable to have all hair cut off in a single or minimal number of passes of the shaver over the surface to be shaved. Presently, it is necessary to make many passes of the shaver, especially if a fairly close shave is desired. Efforts to speed up the shaving process have generally been devoted to the addition of more cutting blades or heads. These have minimum success since the comparatively slow action of existing shavers is due to all hairs not passing through the perforated comb where they can be cut off, unless many passes of the shaver are made, and unless the comb is pressed against the skin a close shave will not be obtained. It is well-known that by pressing too hard against the skin a dragging, irritating, and pulling sensation is produced. This is why vibrators and other like methods that just move the comb back and forth seem to be unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method of constructing an electric shaver that will result in a faster, closer, and more comfortable shave, by mechanically oscillating the shaving head. In this invention the device designed to produce the oscillation of the shaving head is of simple but sturdy structure. It delivers the desired action without sophisticated parts. The perforated com and cutting head are oscillated in a circular motion against the grain of the whiskers and are synchronized so that the comb will be at the bottom of its swing to the surface to be shaved, working the-whiskers through the perforations, just as the cutting blades make their stroke and shear them at their shortest point. This is accomplished by mounting the cutter blades on a hollow shaft through which a solid shaft, encased in a teflon (or other) bearing, extends at each end to mount an adjustable eccentric wheel. Driven by the shaver motor at reduced speed the resulting oscillating-vibrating action of the wheels on the cutter head has the additional advantage of gently massaging the surface being shaved as it feeds the hairs through the perforations and glides the shaver over the skin. The oscillating movement, mechanically induced, has the same effect as several passes of the shaver, while making only one pass manually.

In accordance with the present invention and to accomplish the above objects and advantages, the shaver is provided with a housing, the lower portion of which serves as handle, the top portion contains the cutting blades, eccentric wheels, together with their mountings and drives, and the comb, on the top outside, at a 45 angle from the perpendicular. The motor is mounted crosswise with shaft ends to each side in the central portion of the housing and due to its weight and position in the housing acts as a fulcrum for the oscillating motion of the cutting head. One end of the motor is connected by crank and connecting rod to the hollow drive shaft on which the cutter blades are mounted. The other end of the motor shaft is connected by worm gears with connecting shaft to the solid shaft on which the eccentric wheels are mounted, the worm gears allowing speed reduction to suit the eccentric wheels.

Earlier ithas been mentioned'that the circular motion is synchronized with the cutting blades. This becomes BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In order that the objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent and that it may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the whole, being heldin the hand in the approximate position it will operate when in use and simulating the oscillating motion;

FIG. 2 is a frontal sectional view of all the mechanism of the apparatus with the exception of the motor;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the eccentric wheels showing different positions of their adjustment;

FIG. 4 is a side view, housing removed, showing crank and connecting rod drive for cutter blade shaft;

FIG. 5 is a side view, housing removed, showing worm gear drive for eccentric wheels drive shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, in the figures the same components are identified by the same reference numerals.

Except for the perforated comb 14, all parts are completely enclosed in a housing 10 (FIG. 2), and are comprised of cutter blades 13, mounted on a hollow shaft 17, which is connected to motor 11, by connecting rod 12, along with cranks 12a and 12b.

Also enclosed are eccentric wheels 15, mounted on a solid shaft 18, extending through hollow shaft 17, and connected to opposite end of motor 1 1, by a connecting shaft 16, and worm gears 16a and 1611.

As is customary, when the shaver is grasped in the hand by the lower end of housing 10, and the perforated comb 14, is passed along in contact with the area to be shaved, most of the hairs are threaded into it and are sheared off at various lengths by cutter blades 13, which are mounted on drive shaft 17, driven by motor 11, through connecting rod 12, and crank 12a and crank 1217, the latter making only part of a turn which causes the back and forth motion of the cutter blades. It is then necessary to pass the comb 14 over the same area several times to get all hairs through it and cut them with blades 13 at the desired length.

The above described action, as you will note, still referring to FIG. 2, used only apparatus which has been more or less standard in shavers up to the present time. Therefore, in conformity with the present invention, special apparatus has been provided to mechanically produce an oscillating, vibrating motion of the cutting head, in the form of adjustable eccentric wheels 15, mounted on solid shaft 18, which extends from each end of hollow shaft 17, and mounted in bearings 19 therein, and connected to motor 11 through connecting shaft 16, and worm gears 16a and 16b which reduce the speed of the eccentric wheels 15, to give the gentle, circular oscillating vibrating action causing the shaver, mechanically, to repeatedly contact the area to be shaved and to swiftly remove all hairs at their nearest proximity to the skin in a single pass. This action is simulated in FIG. 1.

The adjustable eccentric wheels 15, FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b and FIG. 3c, are shown in three of the many different gravity positions, each position changing the center of gravity, and when the wheels 15 are turned they exert accordingly more or less centrifugal force which,

through drive shaft 18 is transmitted to the shaver head, increasing or decreasing the intensity of the oscil lation. The inner segment 15a of eccentric wheel 15 is locked solidly in countersink in flat on drive shaft 18 by means of a lock thread setscrew 156 through wall at center of flat which coincides with the flat on drive shaft 18. The outer segment 15b also has a setscrew 15d through the thinnest wall of circular cut-out and when mounted on segment 15a, FIG. 30, so that setscrew 15d is directly over and adjacent to setscrew 150, the wheel 15 has the greatest amount of weight on one side of the center of gravity and, therefore, exerts the greatest amount of centrifugal force, thereby increasing the oscillation. When outer segment 15b, FIG. 3b, is turned from the above position 180 around segment 15a it is in position to exert the least amount of centrifugal force and therefore decreases the oscillation. This adjustment affords a choice of action to fit particular needs.

Worm gear 16a, FIG. 5, with its matching radial gear and worm gear 16b, also with matching radial, along with connecting shaft 16 and thrust bearing 16c, serve the twofold purpose of connecting eccentric wheel drive shaft 18 to motor 11 as well as reducing speed to suit the smooth motion created by wheels 15.

Crank 12a, FIG. 4, mounted on shaft of motor 1 1, delivers a reciprocating action through connecting rod 12 to arm of crank 12h, resulting in a rocking motion of shaft 17, on which cutter blades 13 are mounted, causing them to sweep back and forth inside the contour of comb 14.

An alternate method of mounting segment 15b of eccentric wheel 15, onto segment 15a, is shown in FIG. 3d and FIG. 3e, wherein eight spring loaded steel ball members, le, are set into outer rim of segment a, extending out to fit into contour of shallow race 15f, as well as eight indentations 15g, cut into inner rim of segment 15b, allowing 15b to be snapped on and held firmly in place on segment 15a. The knurled outer edge of segment 15b facilitates a change in position when making adjustments, the steel ball members l5e dropping into the eight indentations 15g, cut into race 15f of segment 15b, holding it securely at each of the eight positions.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric shaver having a housing containing an electric motor, at least one cutting blade coupled to the output shaft of the motor for movement, and a shaving head with a comb in contact with the at least one cutting blade, the improvement comprising at least one eccentric member, of sufficient weight to move the shaver housing in an elliptical path with respect to the shaving area pivotably mounted in said housing, said eccentric member having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the comb of the cutting head, and means for coupling said at least one eccentric member to the shaft of the motor so that the rotation of said eccentric member generates an unbalanced centrifugal force to cause the housing of the shaver to oscillate in a circular motion.

2. The electric shaver as recited in claim 1 comprising a hollow shaft for pivotably mounting the cutting blade, said hollow shaft being parallel to the comb of the shaver head, a solid shaft extending through the hollow shaft, and said eccentric member comprises a pair of eccentric discs each mounted on one end of said solid shaft.

3. The electric shaver as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for coupling comprises a connecting rod pivotably mounted in said housing and having one end engaged to the motor shaft, and its opposite end engaged to one end of said solid shaft.

4. The electric shaver as recited in claim 2 comprising a first crank arm connected to the motor shaft, a second crank arm connected to one end of said hollow shaft and a connecting rod pivotably connected to said first and second crank arms so that the rotation of the motor shaft causes said hollow shaft and cutting blade to reciprocate.

5. The electric shaver as recited in claim 2 wherein each of said eccentric discs includes an inner circular segment slidably disposed within said disc and having an offset aperture for receiving one end of said solid shaft and means for locking said circular segment to said eccentric disc.

6. The electric shaver as recited in claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises a set screw threadably engaged to said disc and contacting said circular segment.

7. The electric shaver as recited in claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises spring loaded ball members disposed on the periphery of said circular segment, and a plurality of spaced-apart indentations formed on the inner periphery of said disc corresponding to said ball members so that said eccentric disc can be pivoted with respect to said circular segment to change the axis of said disc with respect to its axis of rotation.

l l i= 

1. In an electric shaver having a housing containing an electric motor, at least one cutting blade coupled to the output shaft of the motor for movement, and a shaving head with a comb in contact with the at least one cutting blade, the improvement comprising at least one eccentric member, of sufficient weight to move the shaver housing in an elliptical path with respect to the shaving area pivotably mounted in said housing, said eccentric member having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the comb of the cutting head, and means for coupling said at least one eccentric member to the shaft of the motor so that the rotation of said eccentric member generates an unbalanced centrifugal force to cause the housing of the shaver to oscillate in a circular motion.
 2. The electric shaver as recited in claim 1 comprising a hollow shaft for pivotably mounting the cutting blade, said hollow shaft being parallel to the comb of the shaver head, a solid shaft extending through the hollow shaft, and said eccentric member comprises a pair of eccentric discs each mounted on one end of said solid shaft.
 3. The electric shaver as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for coupling comprises a connecting rod pivotably mounted in said housing and having one end engaged to the motor shaft, and its opposite end engaged to one end of said solid shaft.
 4. The electric shaver as recited in claim 2 comprising a first crank arm connected to the motor shaft, a second crank arm connected to one end of said hollow shaft and a connecting rod pivotably connected to said first and second crank arms so that the rotation of the motor shaft causes said hollow shaft and cutting blade to reciprocate.
 5. The electric shaver as recited in claim 2 wherein each of said eccentric discs includes an inNer circular segment slidably disposed within said disc and having an offset aperture for receiving one end of said solid shaft and means for locking said circular segment to said eccentric disc.
 6. The electric shaver as recited in claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises a set screw threadably engaged to said disc and contacting said circular segment.
 7. The electric shaver as recited in claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises spring loaded ball members disposed on the periphery of said circular segment, and a plurality of spaced-apart indentations formed on the inner periphery of said disc corresponding to said ball members so that said eccentric disc can be pivoted with respect to said circular segment to change the axis of said disc with respect to its axis of rotation. 